Split shifts, less home time, less money.

Last week one of my bosses came to me and said he wants to give me more hours. "It means more money, you should be happy." Fair enough. On Sunday he showed me the new rota. So far I've been working from 4pm until we finish on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and cleaned the restaurant on Mondays for a few hours in day time. Now he wants me to work the following hours: Tuesday 6pm-finish, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 12-15 and 18-finish. So I'm losing all my Monday hours and two hours on Tuesday. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday I will be working one hour more that usual but I will have to sacrifice four hours more for work each day because on that 3 hour break I cannot get home and back. I have no idea what to do with that time? I really can't afford to go shopping or eat out. No way.. I'm trying to save money for Finland. At the minute I usually get about £80 a week. I try to save half of it. So let's say I have £40 for myself per week. My weekly bus ticket is £12. Ok so I have £28 left. This is supposed to be enough for cat food, human food, cat litter, hygiene etc etc. This week I have to buy Nero's flea drops and food. That's £30 gone. I also just ran out of shampoo and conditioner. Maybe I can't save half of my weekly wage. Again.

Last week I was at work every single day. Wednesday is my day off but I go to that sommelier course which is at work so it is not really a day off. And then my managers dared to make me and the other waitress to set and clear tables and clean up after! We don't get paid for it and it was my only day off all week! Usually Sunday is my day off as well but because it was mother's day and we were full and I was the only waitress who could do it, I had to do it. Well yesterday I went cleaning again and was hoping to get this Tuesday off. Because of the new rota it was a problem so I am expected to work without a proper day off until Sunday again? Well my manager promised to phone me today if he doesn't need me. I still can't plan anything and have to be ready to go... Funny that he just phoned me when I was writing this. Ok I'm not going to work, let's stop moaning then. :)

I am really looking forward to going to Finland and I bought a little sandwich box for saving money in. I really want to see the amount grow! But Finland is not the only thing I am looking forward to. We are going to see a horse race in about three weeks time. It will be my first gallop race ever and since I really like horses I am really excited about it. I really hope they find another waitress to help in the restaurant.. I am just thinking of my waitress friend, not them two managers so much. I am so happy she is still there. I only see her on weekends and on the course but seeing her really motivates me. Her and one of the chefs. Please don't leave before me! Because I know they both want to. Anyway, about the race! I hope that I get lucky and win some money. I will choose a horse with the nicest name or colour and hope that will do it. I also hope it is going to be a nice day. I really want to wear a summery dress.

Any ideas on what I could do on my 3 hour breaks? So far I am thinking that I could take my wine books to work and if I'm allowed to stay there I could do some studying. Then MAYBE if there is a swimming hall somewhere close enough and they are open, I could start swimming. Maybe just stupid long walks. I could kill that time online but I am not taking my laptop to work. Hmmm.. Heeeelp!

Ps. 66 days until Finland!

Painting, love and shopping

Painting

Painting is one of the only hobbies I have but I haven't felt like doing it for months. On last Thursday I was in the right mood and decided to continue working on something I started ages ago. It didn't go like I planned it though. First I couldn't find my paints.. I spend over half an hour looking for them. Then I realised I have run out of some of the colours I needed so I had to go to town. It was actually quite nice, the sun was out for the first time in a long time and I found a nice set of Galeria acrylics. I also bought a new reflective collar for our cat Nero and a paradise mix -dried fruits. When I came home it was already late in the afternoon but I wanted to do some painting since I had done so much work to get that far. I started painting and opened the paradise mix. A couple of minutes later I tasted paint in my mouth. The paint on my fingers hadn't dried and by that time my hand had been in the bag and my mouth several times. I went to the toilet to clean my mouth very carefully trying to spit all the red out of my mouth. There was more than I realised. With a clean mouth I returned back to the living room only to realise that Nero has walked over my palette and he had already managed to walk on the fitted carpets, sofa, kitchen worktops.. Well, everywhere. After doing my best to clean the paint up I returned to my painting and managed to work on it for a couple of hours. For some reason I haven't been in the mood since.

Love

It was Valentine's day last Friday and because my English man is an important character in my blog I thought I'd tell you how we spent it. I was working. The restaurant where I work was fully booked, my managers were in a horrible mood and I was told to fuck off as soon as I arrived. For the rest of the evening I tried to avoid my bosses and looked forward to going home. I finished after midnight and D had bought me a big beautiful rose, chocolates, a card and sour apple Cactus Jack's. We "cooked" a frozen pizza, had a few drinks and managed to have quite a good night after all. We are both stressed and tired with our jobs, money and all that but I do feel lucky to have him. He is a caring boyfriend but also my best friend.

Shopping

D's birthday is coming so I went shopping yesterday. I can't tell you what I bought him because he reads this blog and it's a bit silly anyway. But I will show you my Yoshi t-shirt and Nero with his new collar. :)